DRILLERS EVEN SERIES IN 16-8 SLUGFEST
TULSA, Okla. - The Drillers struck the final blow with six runs in the eighth inning in the back-and-forth Game 4 of the North Division Championship Series on Saturday night in the 16-8 loss for the Naturals at ONEOK Field. The two clubs combined for 24 runs on 31 hits and
TULSA, Okla. - The Drillers struck the final blow with six runs in the eighth inning in the back-and-forth Game 4 of the North Division Championship Series on Saturday night in the 16-8 loss for the Naturals at ONEOK Field. The two clubs combined for 24 runs on 31 hits and are set up for a winner-take-all Game 5 on Sunday night from downtown Tulsa.
Northwest Arkansas (2-2) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead.
Tulsa (2-2) pulled within a 4-2 margin in the bottom of the fourth inning before the Drillers sent 11 men to bat in the fifth and scored six runs to jump out to an 8-4 lead after five innings.
Donnie Dewees led off the ensuing top half of the sixth inning with an infield single by reliever,
Ryan O'Hearn took Sopko yard on a 3-1 pitch with both Lopez and Duenez aboard to tie the game in the sixth inning at 8-8.
Tulsa countered with a two-run double by
The 18 hits allowed by Northwest Arkansas the most surrendered by a Naturals' club in the postseason with the three-hour and 41 minute game, it matches the longest postseason game in franchise history.
Northwest Arkansas looks to capture the club's third straight North Division title in a deciding Game 5 on Sunday, Sept. 10 at ONEOK Field with right-hander,
The winner will head to the Texas League Championship Series to face-off against either Midland or San Antonio who will play Game 5 of the South Division Championship Series in San Antonio, Texas following the RockHounds comeback win at Security Bank Ballpark on Saturday night.
Join the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly, for a 5:45 p.m. pregame show, leading up to the 6:05 p.m. first pitch from ONEOK Field on the flagship station of the Naturals, 92.1-FM, the Ticket.
Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Facebook and Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on Season 10 of Naturals baseball.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.
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